The Arizona sentinel., 1887-12-17
TRUE REFINEM
The Relation which Natural Sweetness of
Disposition Bears to 1t.

The Relation w h1cH NATURAL SWootnosS Oh
Disposition Bears to 1t.
One hears much talk of this desira-
BILE quality nowadays, but the idea of
it is often very vague. What is refine
ment?
We are not of those who think that
it consists of studied quietness of
dress and manner. Some very refined
people dress shockingly. and they
even have quite loud voices, and yet
their good breeding is patent to all the
world.
We once met a whole family of del
icate ladies at fashionable summer
resort on the banks of the Hudson,
whose idea of refinement was languor
and ill-health. They thought it was
just too vulgar to be healthy and
strong; quite too mannish, indeed, in
lady!
Among some people, size is thought
to have a good deal to do with refine
ment. 1t is unrefned to be large,
gross to be fat; coarse to have weight
and monstrous to have prominent
features. A large neck, large cheeks
or lips are especially opposed to all re-
finement.
Now. little people are certainly very
cunning, very curious, but we can not
all be fairies-nor do we wish it Only
fancy a whole world of these little
creatures! Why, even trade would Ian
guish. Smaller quantities of every
thing would be needed from cloth and
flannel all the way down to oysters and
buckwheat cakes. No, large people
are necessary to keep the world NOV
ing.
We once knew of fashionable lady
who liked her clergyman because. he
preached such refined sermons. When
a distinguished literary man died re-
Gently we were told he was not re-
fined person. Well, perhaps he was
not, but he was so distinguished in
other ways that really we had not
thought of his refinement. We would
Just as soon have asked whether st.
Paul was refined man, or whether
Isaiah went to ancient Babylon to ac-
quire good FORM" as some persons
go to London,now for that purpose.
There are some people who are al
ways trying to be refined. Like Rosa
mond in Middlemarch, they have so
trained themselves that. by the help of
nice clothes, sweet voice and placid
demeanor.. they appear outwardly to
be refined. s. .
There are, we believe, many people
in very humble station in life who
are truly refined in their. feelings who
are yet quite unpublished outwardly.
= Their hearts are right, they have the
consideration for others, which is the
very basis of refinement
There are also others in good society
whose natural sweetness of disposition
constantly shows itself in kind and
gentle words and deeds toward all
No effort is needed on their part to be
courteous and amiable, for they feel
so, and naturally their outward man.
ners are but the reflex of that which is
within. Such persons are charming;
they like every body and every body
likes them. We all know few such,
and are thankful.
The chief desideratum appears to be
a good heart. If we truly love our
neighbors we can not fail to be. kind
and sweet to them. And if we are in
different, all the care we take of our
manners, all our studied refinement,
all our stylish conversation will be as
dust and ashes.
There are those who find it difficult
to care for their neighbors. They wish
them well, but do not, want to be
bothered with them. They alway try
to be civil, but it is uphill work, and
they are glad when the trial is over.
Their refinement must make them
smile and bow and say "Yes' and
mo" at proper intervals. But have
they nothing more? Is there no inter-
est felt except in their departure?
Nothing is valuable unless genuine.
Who cares for paste diamonds and
imitation cut glass? Outward polish
is of slight worth without the true re-
fnement of the heart. Home Journal